While a Kaiser Permanente float has been a fixture in the parade for 15 years, the medical company, headquartered in Pasadena, will be trading in their float for a 90-second video with the theme, “Honoring health care heroes and a healthy, thriving world.”
Kaiser Permanente’s TV segment will feature heart-warming and emotional testimonials by eight health care heroes. They include:
Marcial Reyes, Emergency Department Charge Nurse, Fontana Medical Center
Shortly after the start of the pandemic, Marcial Reyes found himself on the other side of the fence when he contracted the COVID-19 virus. After spending 23 days in the hospital – isolated, comatose, and on a ventilator for more than a week, Marcial recovered and returned to his work on the frontlines in the Emergency Room to care for patients experiencing the same illness that placed him in a critical state and near death.
Maria Guzman, Environmental Services Aide, Anaheim Medical Center
Maria Guzman’s passion for patients started when she witnessed hospital staff treat her close loved ones who were fighting cancer with love and compassion. It was because of this she quickly fell in love with health care and decided she wanted to make a difference in the healing experience. As an Environmental Services Aide during the pandemic, Maria has found great meaning in going above and beyond for her patients. Her love for helping others has motivated her, and she is now working toward becoming a registered nurse.
Nina Vallega, Intensive Care Unit Registered Nurse, Los Angeles Medical Center
The beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic felt like walking into the unknown, and for Nina Vallega, it is a moment in time she’ll never forget. “We saw all the negative reports in the news, the ever-changing stream of information about the virus, and it made us wonder what are we getting ourselves into?” Vallega said. One of the things that inspires her most is the bravery of her colleagues. “They still show up every single day, and they still take care of these people,” she shared.
Jerry Barba, Clinical Psychologist, Downey Service Area
Frontline workers have been under enormous pressure. Jerry Barba saw that and took action. Barba began by supporting Kaiser Permanente staff over the phone but soon realized that wasn’t enough, deciding instead to volunteer his time in person at Kaiser Permanente Downey Medical Center. After setting up an office right in the heart of the Emergency Department, he began providing quick interventions and offering coping tips for frontline workers in need of a little extra connection. “Hold on to hope and try to find some bright spots, even if they’re just moments in a day,” he says.
Rene Aventura, Registered Nurse, Step Down Unit, Baldwin Park Medical Center
A platoon sergeant in the U.S. Army, Rene Aventura has experienced the reality of being in combat zones on the other side of the globe, even once coming close to losing his life during an airstrike. Now back home, Aventura is fighting another battle as a frontline nurse during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Since I came back, I feel like I’m in a state of war – it’s a fight we have to win,” Aventura said. He added that he feels honored to be able to provide patient care during this difficult time, sharing that it feels like this is his and his fellow nurses’ calling.
Ebony Talley, Director of Infection Prevention, Woodland Hills Medical Center
Ebony Talley believes we can get through the pandemic together. “There is light at the end of the tunnel, and there is another side of this,” Talley says. “This is hard for all of us, and we really haven’t had a moment’s rest since this started. That takes a toll on anybody.” After more than nine months of combatting the virus, pandemic fatigue is expected, but giving up isn’t an option, she says.
Dr. Danielle R. Flowers, Pediatrician, and Physician in Charge, Mission Hills Clinic
Providing care for children during a pandemic hasn’t been easy because of the emotional toll. “You can barely see your doctor’s eyes behind all of the stuff we were wearing, so it is really hard to connect with the kids and make an already scary experience a comfortable one,” said Dr. Flowers. “We’ve had to say things like, ‘I’m smiling at you with my eyes,’ and we have to do more with our voices and our body language to let them know that this is a safe environment and we’re here to help them.”
Dr. Elizabeth E. Hudson, Head of Infectious Disease, Panorama City Medical Center
Dr. Elizabeth E. Hudson said one of the most important things that have helped her navigate through the unknown is recognizing the importance of embracing an interdependent culture. Another is understanding that sacrifice is hard and uncomfortable, but necessary. “This is all about caring for your fellow human being and showing the Martin Luther King kind of love – a real love for people,” she explains. While it’s impossible to have all the answers, Dr. Hudson says she is focusing on making sure patients can get the care they need so they can recover as quickly as possible. “I have seen whole families die, especially earlier on in the pandemic, and it’s just been heartbreaking. That has sort of shaped my whole focus,” she shared.
Get our daily Pasadena newspaper in your email box. Free.
Get all the latest Pasadena news, more than 10 fresh stories daily, 7 days a week at 7 a.m.
